Dear Time Editors:
I would like to offer some clarifications to Catherine Elton's article, initially titled "The Melancholy of Motherhood", in the June 20, 2009 issue.
1. Melanie Stokes suffered postpartum psychosis, an illness far more rare and serious than postpartum depression.
2. The author did ot include the perspective of mothers who successfully used medication to treat their illness.
2. Ms. Elton fails to recognize that the education and awareness programs proposed in the MOTHERS Act are aimed not just at new parents but also at caregivers.
Like Amy Philo, my OB/GYN's response when I told her I was feeling anxious after childbirth was to immediately suggest medication. I resisted for six months while trying many other techniques — sleep, exercise, talk therapy, yoga — until finally accepting medication was justified. New mothers would never deny themselves insulin or thyroid medication if needed; why resist antidepressant medication if it can relieve the anxiety and depression that up to 20% of new mothers experience?
New parents and healthcare providers — including doctors, nurses, childbirth educators, lactation consultants and pediatricians — must be educated about the causes, symptoms and treatment of postpartum depression and anxiety. Specifically, maternal health care providers need to understand that medication is just one option and that treatment plans include self-care, social support, talk therapy and medication only when necessary. The MOTHERS Act does not call for either mandatory screening or use of medication. However, the education and public awareness components of the MOTHERS Act will help shed light on the dark days many new mothers unnecessarily suffer.
Sincerely,
Adrienne Griffen
Founder, Postpartum Support Virginia
www.postpartumva.org
I personally am trying to navigate all of the polarized opinions circling through the media right now. It seems like another women's issue is being placed in the light of "All or Nothing" you are either with us or against us, our agenda vs. their agenda. What I keep wondering is: where are client's in all of this? Where are the women, their needs, their desires for treatment? The women that are NOT in support make it seem as though the Mother's Act is horrible and completely financially driven, however, they are seeming to have their own "agenda" and not telling the whole story much like they argue the supporters OF the bill are not telling the whole story. I think it's dangerous for clinicians to join either FOR or AGAINST groups because the healthiest place a clinician can be is with their client. This means there are times when medication is appropriate, times when talk-therapy, increasing supports and crisis resolution is enough. I'm not for offering medication as the FIRST option but I'm not for offering it at the very end either. I'm for it being an option that is to be utilized in the appropriate situations. I think this is where the art of the provider comes in and knowing where your client fits into their environment, their circumstances, their history, their supports, etc. Certainly you are going to have a broad spectrum of providers, some better at what they do and some not so great. I realize we are in a drug driven society, however, their is a time and a place and thankfully we live in a society where there are options for women. I don't think the answer is 100% medication or 100% no medication. I simply think it's high time to get women's issues out of the agenda driven extremes and back to the client as the center of the issue. There are pieces of this bill that I am still uncertain about as I am trying to sift through what is fact and what is media, but it's worth the effort to better educate myself so I can help my community, my clients and myself.
Wow very interesting post!
It seems that there is a lot of contention around the Mothers Act indeed. I was wondering if I might shoot you a question that isn't necessarily geared toward the Act but more towards your experience with postpartum ailments: have you had any experience with recovery-based treatments?
I only question because I know the recovery-movement is hitting the mental health field in almost every aspect, but I haven't yet heard of how it is angling at postpartum or prenatal disorders and I thought you might be the one to go to to get some sort of clarity on the subject!
If you don’t mind, I might even love to quote you on my own blog devoted to figuring out and introducing people to what this Recovery Model really is, the Mental Health Recovery Blog if you would be comfortable with that. I would of course reference your site but if you would rather not be quoted I would of course love to carry on the discussion here!
If your not yet familiar with the recovery movement, there are some great articles about it at:
1)http://www.squidoo.com/whatismentalhealthrecovery
2)http://www.squidoo.com/measuringrecovery
I’d love to hear your take on it should time allow! Thanks so much for all your insightful posts!
All the best,
Lex Douvasa
MHCD Research and Evaluations